La Liga

  • 'I would like him to be here' - Courtois...

    Thibaut Courtois would like Belgium team-mate and Chelsea star Eden Hazard to join him at Real Madrid. Hazard revealed in early February he had made a decision over his future, but the star attacker is yet to announce his plans. The 28-year-old, whose contract runs until 2020, ...

    'I would like him to be here' - Courtois sends Hazard another message to join him at Real Madrid

    Thibaut Courtois would like Belgium team-mate and Chelsea star Eden Hazard to join him at Real Madrid. Hazard revealed in early February he had made a decision over his future, but the star attacker is yet to announce his plans. The 28-year-old, whose contract runs until 2020, has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu and Courtois wants Hazard to move to the La Liga giants. "I don't know if he is going to sign for Real Madrid, nor do I know if the club want him," the goalkeeper told Onda Cero on Wednesday. "For me, he is a great player, but I don't decide those things. "Each one decides what he does with his life. For me, he is one of the best in the world and as a friend I would like him to be here." Courtois played four seasons at Chelsea before making the switch to Madrid in August last year. Hazard has scored 13 goals and provided 11 assists in 29 Premier League games this season, with Chelsea sitting sixth in the table. The 28-year-old scored on his 100th appearance for Belgium on Sunday but dismissed reports that a deal with the Spanish giants is already done. "There is still nothing," he said when pressed by for an answer about his Madrid future while on international duty . Chelsea return to Premier League action Sunday as they travel to face Cardiff City, with a clash against Brighton to follow on Wednesday.  The Blues are also still in the running in the Europa League, where they are set to face a quarter-final against Slavia Praha, with the first match to be played on April 11 and Chelsea hosting the second leg a week later with a crunch clash against Liverpool tucked in between.   

  • Bale must become an a***hole to succeed ...

    Gareth Bale has been urged to become "an a***hole" in a bid to win over Real Madrid's fans by ex-Blancos star Rafael van der Vaart. Bale has come under criticism from supporters at Santiago Bernabeu this season, with the Wales international booed for certain performances during ...

    Bale must become an a***hole to succeed at Real Madrid! - Van der Vaart

    Gareth Bale has been urged to become "an a***hole" in a bid to win over Real Madrid's fans by ex-Blancos star Rafael van der Vaart. Bale has come under criticism from supporters at Santiago Bernabeu this season, with the Wales international booed for certain performances during Madrid's forgettable campaign. That has led to speculation regarding Bale's future, particularly since Zinedine Zidane - a manager under whom Bale struggled for regular starts during his first stint in charge - returned to the Spanish capital to replace Santiago Solari. But Van der Vaart, who played alongside Bale at Tottenham having previously represented Madrid, believes his former team-mate must become more selfish if he is to succeed long-term. "It’s strange, but in Holland we say that sometimes you need to be an a***hole," the former Netherlands international told the Evening Standard. "You can also be a positive a***hole. He’s worth €100m - they paid a lot of money and he has to do it. In his last year at Spurs, he took every free-kick, he decided everything. “That’s what he has to do now. I realise it’s difficult, because you have so many good players, but he should do it more." Despite that advice, Van der Vaart is unsure whether Bale has the necessary character to deal with the pressure of playing for a club the size of Real Madrid. He has scored 102 goals in 224 appearances for Madrid since his world-record transfer in the summer of 2013, but that has not been enough to win over everyone inside the Bernabeu. And Van der Vaart has warned Bale that there are always likely to be detractors even if his displays do become more consistent, meaning he will need to learn to put those critics to the back of his mind. "Gareth is an amazing player but he’s a person that has to feel the confidence. He has to feel he is welcome. "But I know Real is a difficult club if you don’t perform. It doesn’t matter if you’re [Cristiano ]Ronaldo, Bale or Van der Vaart — they’ll throw you out after just one year. "You have to deal with it, and I don’t know if he can do that. I know him as a person and, with a Spurs hat, I always hope he’ll say, ‘Okay, I’ll come back’. "I don’t think it’s going to happen, but that would be a nice story." Madrid are set to undergo a squad overhaul under Zidane this summer, with Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen among those reportedly on the club's transfer shortlist. But, like Bale, Van der Vaart is unsure whether the Denmark international would be able to cope with the weight of expectation at the 13-time European champions. "He’s a fantastic player, but he comes across a little bit quiet," he said of the former Ajax man. Madrid return to action after the international break on Sunday as they take on struggling Huesca in La Liga.

  • Lyon boss Genesio would be 'honoured' to...

    Lyon coach Bruno Genesio said it would be "an honour" to be succeeded by Jose Mourinho, with reports in France linking the former Manchester United manager with the Ligue 1 side. Mourinho was sacked by Man Utd in December following a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool, leavin...

    Lyon boss Genesio would be 'honoured' to be succeeded by Mourinho

    Lyon coach Bruno Genesio said it would be "an honour" to be succeeded by Jose Mourinho, with reports in France linking the former Manchester United manager with the Ligue 1 side. Mourinho was sacked by Man Utd in December following a 3-1 defeat to bitter rivals Liverpool, leaving the club's top-four prospects looking bleak. For a while he looked set to secure a return to Real Madrid, flirting with them at almost every given opportunity during a series of media appearances. But after Madrid opted to re-hire Zinedine Zidane following the sacking of Santiago Solari, Mourinho is having to reassess his options. French publication L'Equipe linked him with Lyon on Wednesday, and the incumbent Genesio – whose contract expires at the end of the season – was welcoming of such speculation. "We can only respect Mourinho," he told reporters. "He's a coach who has won everywhere he's been. "He is maybe not the one I identify with personality wise, but I respect him a lot regarding his records and achievements in football. He's won everything. "Everywhere he's been he's won a trophy. He's won Champions Leagues. Obviously, he's a great coach, so, if he succeeds me it would be an honour." Midfielder Lucas Tousart was more reserved on the matter, though he does rate Mourinho among the world's best coaches. "It is not something that we are listening to," he added. "A lot of things are 'revealed' and then appear at the end to be wrong, but I don't know. We'll see what happens. "He was, and I think he still is, a great head coach. He accomplished great things in the biggest clubs. "His last experience [at Man Utd] went badly. I don't know him personally, so there's not a lot I can say about him, but it's true that he's currently among the best coaches. "He's among the ones who have done amazing stuff with their clubs."

  • Bayern Munich complete club-record €80m ...

    Bayern Munich have completed a club-record €80 million (£68m/$90m) deal to sign Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez. The full-back, who was part of the France team to win the 2018 World Cup, has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga champions having completed a me...

    Bayern Munich complete club-record €80m Lucas Hernandez signing

    Bayern Munich have completed a club-record €80 million (£68m/$90m) deal to sign Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez. The full-back, who was part of the France team to win the 2018 World Cup, has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga champions having completed a medical over the international break. He becomes the second defensive reinforcement to have agreed to join Bayern this summer, with international team-mate Benjamin Pavard also on his way to Bavaria from Stuttgart after a €35m (£31m/$40m) deal was agreed in January. "Today is a very important day in my football career," Hernandez said in a statement released by his new club. "Bayern Munich is one of the best clubs in Europe and the world. I am proud to be able to fight for all titles for Bayern in the future. "I would like to thank Atletico, the management, the coaches, my team-mates and the fans for a wonderful 12 years. Atletico will always be part of me. Now I'm happy that I'm taking the next step at Bayern." Hernandez leaves Atletico having formed a key part of their defence under Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital. Since making his debut for the Rojiblancos in 2014 he has made 110 appearances for the club, though he will play no further role for Simeone's side this season as he requires knee ligament surgery. "In our sports medical examination, we found damage to the inner ligament of the right knee, which must be repaired surgically," Bayern club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt revealed. "In my experience, Lucas Hernandez will be available to FC Bayern for the start of the 2019-20 Bundesliga season." Hernandez, who can also play at centre-back, has made 15 appearances for his country and played every match for Didier Deschamps' side as they lifted the World Cup for the second time in Russia last summer. "I am very happy that in Lucas Hernandez we have been able to sign one of the best defensive players in the world and a world champion," said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. "Lucas can be used both in central defence and on the left of defence. In addition, Lucas will continue our tradition of outstanding French players and strengthen our team." Hernandez's arrival continues Bayern's rebuilding project after an indifferent campaign for the giants of German football. A sluggish start to the season under new manager Niko Kovac saw them slip behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race, though Bayern have since made up a six-point gap since the winter break and top the table on goal difference with eight matches to play. In the Champions League, however, they failed to make the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2011 following a last-16 defeat to Liverpool. Those disappointments, combined with an ageing squad that is set to lose Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery this summer, means Hernandez is unlikely to be the last new addition to the Bayern squad ahead of next season.

  • 'I'm playing better for Barcelona since ...

    Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has no regrets about retiring from international football, claiming that his club form has improved since leaving the Spain set-up. Pique announced his international retirement shortly after the 2018 World Cup after the Barcelona man had won 102 c...

    'I'm playing better for Barcelona since Spain retirement' - Pique has no international regrets

    Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has no regrets about retiring from international football, claiming that his club form has improved since leaving the Spain set-up. Pique announced his international retirement shortly after the 2018 World Cup after the Barcelona man had won 102 caps for his country and lifted a World Cup and European Championship during his time playing for the national team. His final game for the former world champions was in the World Cup second round against hosts Russia, where Spain were eliminated via a penalty shootout. Pique believes he picked the right time to hang his boots up as he wanted to focus on prolonging his club career, which has gone from strength to strength since he took his final bow as a Spain international. "The decision has been made and I do not regret it." Pique told Sport. He added: "The people that don't want to understand it aren't going to understand [my international retirement] but I explained it all at the time.  "It was the right moment to leave the Spanish national team. I needed to rest." Eyebrows were raised when Pique appeared for the unofficial Catalonia national team on Monday as they played Venezuela, winning 2-1. Pique made his 10th appearance for the Catalonian team in that game but he is adamant that this does not signal a return to the international stage. "The Catalan national side only needed me for one day,” he said. “The two things have nothing to do with each other."  Pique has been in fine form for Barcelona this season. He has not missed a league game and feels the rest he gets during international breaks is helping him maintain his good form.  "It's not just me, but others [who don't play international football], but it's obvious in my case I am performing better for Barca since I left [the Spanish team]." Spain were in action twice over the past week, beating Norway 2-1 and Malta 2-0 to make a solid start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign as the national team look to usher in a new era.

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